BBMB Research Seminars

September 6, 2007
Amy Andreotti
Associate Professor
Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology
Iowa State University
"T cell signaling; insights from protein NMR spectroscopy"
1414 Molecular Biology Buidling
4:10 p.m.

Research in the Andreotti group focuses on a family of intracellular signaling molecules that is exclusively expressed in hematopoeitic cells, in particular the IL-2 inducible tyrosine kinase (Itk) which is expressed in T cells. The Andreotti laboratory makes use of NMR spectroscopy to determine three-dimensional structures of various domains of Itk and related family members. Additionally, NMR and a suite of biochemical techniques are used to examine interactions between domains and to understand the activation and substrate recognition of these enzymes. Elucidating the mechanisms by which T cell signaling pathways are regulated will allow a more complete understanding of how malfunction of the immune response can lead to autoimmune disease states.